The reality it is it breaks my heart to do this but my younger brother passed away unexpectedly on 5/1 and my priorities have drastically changed. Not for the money or anything but I just don't really have the drive to continue this hobby I love so much.

You guys have always been very helpful to me and so I thought it only right before posting on Craigslist or eBay that you all have the first go at it.

I'm sure your brain is spinning like a runaway engine right now, and I don't blame it at all. My rule of thumb in a time like this is to give it some time and don't make any big decisions fast. I know I might be speaking out of turn since I don't know your situation, but it was good advice when I have had to deal with a family member's passing.

We'll be praying for you.

Ben W.

Bolens 1000, Texas Deere and Horse, blackjackjakexxix and 3 others have said thanks

Very sorry for your loss,an unexpected loss of a loved one breaks our hearts and leaves us wondering most certainly why and often with many 'what ifs. No words work here , none..

I will share with you a story about a guy, his family ,and a hobby.

Twenty five years ago I was fixed up on a date by my older sister with her husband's cousin. Told she was close to my age (28 at the time) imagine choking on ones pizza as we conversed and her age came out (20) I was flabbergasted and my immediate thoughts were if her father finds out I'm surely done for ! Now what is interesting her cousin was ( I say was , read on) my brother in law. Fast forward ahead , continued dating , fell in love got married, yes with her parents blessing. My father in law was a wonderful man , loving father of two girls, caring husband and master carpenter. Because we eloped and he missed out on giving his oldest daughter away and has he felt obliged to do pay for a wedding, he and his wife gave us fifteen acres of prime real estate, took six months off work and built our house. I often said he had more money in our house than his own !

We lost Jack ten years ago to lung cancer , diagnosed and three weeks later gone...
A void till this day remains. He was my dad too , my buddy, my friend and yes my Bolens mentor. We restored ( in process, almost completed) an H16 which he bought new in 1973 and were well into an 1886 when he got sick and passed. They sat for almost three years as my heart, mind , and maybe as an unseen solace my work took me away from home weeks at a time.

Six years ago our daughter came into our lives late for me (47) and my wife found out we were expecting on her (39th) birthday. What joy she has brought to our lives, her grandpa Jack and her would of become famous friends no doubt.. 'what if'

One more fast forward ,seven months ago my brother in law ( my wife's cousin) my family for 32 of his 54 years died suddenly of a massive heart at work , bridge building ,remote location .. 'what if'.Yes my wife's cousin ,my brother in law , father of my oldest niece and nephew, my little ones uncle and cousin gone in a blink of an eye.
If you look back thru my posts you'll see on titled 'spring clean up , with some good help' some pictures of my daughter and a Bolens 600, has you read down thru the replies you see another pic this one of my wife's grandfather, the little guy on the back was her cousin, my brother in law.

My thoughts as you go through this difficult time are don't do anything rash, don't make any snap decisions, grieve, remember, and come to terms with it, maybe solace can in time be found with a hobby , the enjoyment it brings , and a couple Bolens tractors. God bless, best wishes.

I'm sure your brain is spinning like a runaway engine right now, and I don't blame it at all. My rule of thumb in a time like this is to give it some time and don't make any big decisions fast. I know I might be speaking out of turn since I don't know your situation, but it was good advice when I have had to deal with a family member's passing.

We'll be praying for you.

Ben W.

I agree with Ben, Please take the time to think it over before selling out.

The words and thoughts are overwhelming and very unexpected so for that i am so grateful. I do believe I am making the right choice and even more convinced now that what i do sell will go to a very good home and be used the way they were intended.

I will be sure to let you all know when the post goes up in the classifieds. For now, I would like to respect the intent of the forum and so will not be continuing this thread. Please PM me for any further queries.

Sorry to hear of your brother, that is a very hard pill to swallow. I choked on 9 deaths in 10 years, all personal and related to me.

I am have been liquidating my whole collection. From horse drawn, blacksmith tools, tack, garden tractors, engines, collectables, kitchenware, etc,...It is taking months and there is still so much to sort through not including all my power tools, hand tools, power equipment between three properties.